Fish grab



V. J. BENSON July 31, 1951 FISH GRAB Filed April 19, 1947 N Y E o N s R WWW h o uw Tw mT fl Y mve Patented July 31, 1951 UNITED I STATES ATENT OFFICE FISH GRAB Victor J. Benson, Minneapolis Minn."

Application April 19, 1947, serial-No; #42572 4 Claims. (o1. zen-110) 1 This inv'entio'nhas relation to a fish grab, or device for catching fish. 1 I

An object-of the invention is toprovide a fish grab, or device for catchingfish, which will be of novel and improved construction.

A further object is to provide a devicefor catching fish wherein will be incorporated desirable and improved features and characteristics of construction novel both as individual entities of the device and in combination with each ther.--'

And a further object is to provide -a fish grab;

or} device for catching fish, whichwill-include features and characteristics 'of' construction as herein illustrated and described;-

With 'theabove objects in viewyas well as otherswhich will appear as the specificationproceeds, the invention comprises the construction-arrangement and combination ofparts as now: to be fully describedand as hereinafter to be specifically 'claimed,'-it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended'in noway in-a limiting sense, changes in detailsof construction and arrangement of parts being permissible as' long as within the spiritof the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view; partially in section and partially broken away, of a fish grab made according to the invention;

Fig2 is a fragmentary side elevational View disclosing the sideof the fish grab opposite that shown-inFig. 1, with parts indifferent posiber Hl spaced fromthe hollow handle 'II in-' tegrally supportsoppositely disposed, exteriorly extending ears, denoted l3,-i3 and I4, [4, re-

spectively; The ears l3, l3 are in spaced rela' tion' at one-side-of the longitudinally extending passageway I2, the ears-14,14 are-1 in spaced -re-- lation at the opposite sideof saidlongitudinally 2 extending passageway, and the -ears-l3, l 4' and i 3, M at opposite sides of the longitudinally extend ing-{passagewayare in alined relation transversely of said elongated hollow tubular mem-- ber--lll1 Oppositely disposed, w elongated grabbing =elementsof the fishgrab-are indicated; 15 and-I6} respectively. The elongated grabbing elementl 5 has its inner end portion situated between and pivotallyconnected as at ll, to the'ears- 13? I3, the elongated grabbing element 16; has its; inner endportion situated; between and pivotally connected, as at' l8,-to-the ears M, M, and said elongated grabbing elements -l5 and [5 project from the adjacent-end oftheelongated hollow tubularmember, or endof said elongated hollow tubular member opposite thehandle The elongated grabbing-'elements l5 and--|6= are in spacedapart relation and-in substantiah alinement transversely of the elongated hollow? tubular--member- Ill and are mounted for swinging-movement toward and away from each other in -a plane including the longitudinal axis ofsaid elongated hollow tubular memben- The-- outer end portions of said elongated grabbing elements l5 and i6 include barbs or prongs; represented I9 and 20, respectively, at the interior sides of the elongated grabbing elements and in facing relation to each other. An intermediate'portion of each of said elongated grabbing elements integrally supports spaced apart, exteriorly= extending ears, represented 2|, 2I- and 22, 22, respectively. In the disclosure as made, the exteriorly extending ears 2|, 2| and 22, 22

,are substantially at the midlngths of the elon gated grabbing elements.

A c ollar fixed upon an intermediate'portion engaged against "the slidable'collar 24, is repre-"f sented 25. The relatively strong'compression" coil 3 spring 25 urges the slidable collar 24 toward'the elongated grabbing elements l5 and I6. g

The slidablecollar 24 integrally supports op positely disposed, exteriorly extending ears, de noted-26,26 and- 21, 21, respectively. The ears 26-, 26- areinspaced relation-at the sideof the longitudinally extending passageway i 2 adjacent the ears I3, I 3, the ears 21, 21 are in spaced relation at the side of said longitudinally extending passageway adjacent the ears I4, I4, and the ears 26, 21 and 26, 21' at opposite sides of the longitudinally extending passageway are in alined relation transversely of the elongated hollow tubular member ID. The ears 26, 26 and 2'1, 21 project outwardly from the elongated hollow tubular member ID a bit further than do the ears I3, I3 and I4, I4, and the ears I3, I3, 26, 26 and I4, I4, 21, 21, respectively, are in substantial alinement in direction longitudinally of said elongated hollow tubular member.

oppositely disposed first actuator links of the fish grab are designated 28 and 29, respectively. The first actuator link 28 has its inner end portion situated between and pivotally connected, as at 30, to the ears 26, 26 and its outer end portion situated between and pivotally connected, as at 3|, to the ears 2 I, 2|, and the first actuator link 29 has its inner end portion situated between and pivotally connected, as at 32, to the ears 21, 21 and its outer end portion situated between and pivotally connected, as at 33, to the ears 22, 22.

Oppositely disposed second actuator links are represented 34 and 35, respectively. Interior end portions of said second actuator links 34 and 35 are situated substantially at the longitudinal axis of the elongated hollow tubular member I and are pivotally connected, at 36, to each other, an exterior end portion of the second actuator link 34- is pivotally connected, at 3|, to the ears 2 I, 2 I, and an exterior end portion of the second actuator link 35 is pivotally connected, at 33, to the ears 22, 22. Said second actuator links 34 and 35 are assembled together for free relative swinging movement in direction toward said elongated hollow tubular member I!) and for limited relative swinging movement in opposite direction. More explicitly, a stop 31 upon the second actuator link 35 is adapted to become engaged against the second actuator link 34 when the second actuator links 34 and 35 are swung to position immediately beyond alined position at the outer side of said second actuator links, or side of the second actuator links opposite the elongated hollow tubular member ID, thus to limit outward swinging movement of said second actuator links.

An actuator rod 38, slidable in the longitudinally extending passageway I2 and integrally supporting an actuator button 39 upon one of its ends, has its end portion spaced from said actuator button rigidly connected, as by a cross pin 40, to an actuator piece or annular element 4I slidably situated on a portion of the external surface of the elongated hollow tubular member ID at the side of the fixed collar 23 opposite the relatively strong compression coil spring 25. Opposite end portions of the cross pin 40 are disposed in oppositely disposed, longitudinal slots 42, 42 in said elongated hollow tubular member ID, and surfaces of the elongated hollow tubular member defining the opposite ends of said longitudinal slots 42, 42 limit the extent of possible longitudinal movement of the cross pin 40, and hence of the actuator rod 38, in the longitudinally extending passageway I2. The actuator button 39 is situated beyond the end of the elongated hollow tubular member I0 spaced from the slidable actuator piece or annular element 4|, in adjacent relation to the second actuator links 34 and 35 and in substantially alined relation with the pivotal connection 36 in direction longitudinally of the fish grab. A comparatively weak compression coil spring 43, upon said elongated hollow tubular member I0, having one of its ends engaged against the fixed collar 23 and its other end engaged against the slidable actuator piece or annular element 4 I normally retains said slidable actuator piece or annular element in position so that the button 39 upon the actuator rod 38 is in spaced relation to said pivotal connection 36.

The relatively strong compression coil spring 25 is constantly under compression to urge the slidable collar 24 and the first actuator links 28 and 29 and their end portions pivoted to intermediate portions of the elongated grabbing elements away from the elongated hollow tubular member ID, and also to urge the elongated grabbing elements, pivoted to the ears I3, I3, I4, I4, toward said elongated hollow tubular member. The construction and arrangement are such that said relatively strong compression coil spring 25 exerts action, through the instrumentality of the slidable collar 24 and the ears 26, 26, 21, 21, against the inner ends of the first actuator links 28 and 29 causing the outer ends of said first actuator links, pivoted to intermediate portions of the elongated grabbing elements I5 and I6, to be moved outwardly, away from the elongated hollow tubular member, and simultaneously exerts action, through the instrumentality of said slidable collar and the ears I3, I 3, I4, I4, causing the inner ends of said elongated grabbing elements, privoted to said ears I3, I3, I4, I4, to be moved inwardly, toward said elongated hollow tubular member, thus to'cause the elongated grabbing elements to be resiliently pressed toward each other.

The slidable actuator piece or annular element M and the actuator rod 38 with button 39 are for the purpose of situating the elongated grabbing elements I5 and I6 in spaced apart relation, as in Fig. 1 of the drawing, against resilient action of the relatively strong compression coil spring 25. To cause said elongated grabbing elements to be spread apart, the elongated hollow tubular member III, or its handle' II, is grasped while the actuator piece or annular element 4|, together with the actuator rod 38 and its button 39 as a unit, is manually slid, against resilient action of the comparatively weak compression coil spring 43, toward the elongated grabbing elements. Supposing the second actuator links 34 and 35, and the pivotal connection 36 between said second actuator links, to be situated as in Fig. 2 when said actuator piece or annular element M is slid toward said elongated gripping elements, the actuator button 39 will engage the second actuator links 34 and 35 at location adjacent said pivotal connection 36 and cause said second actuator links to be swung to the position in which disclosed in Fig. 1, and, as a consequence, obviously cause the elongated grabbing elements I5 and I6 to become spread apart. In said Fig. 1, the second actuator links 34 and 35 are swung to position outwardly of alined or dead center position and there held against further outward swinging movement by reason of engagement of the stop 31 on the second actuator link 35 with the second actuator link 34. Upon release of the slidable actuator piece or annular element 4|, the comparatively weak compression coil spring 43 will cause said slidable actuator piece or annular element to be returned to its normal position, as disclosed in the drawing, but the elongated grabbing elements I5 and I6 will be retained in spaced apart relation, against tendency of the relatively strong other, by'th e second actuator 'linksfi ll and 35. V

Resilient action of said relatively strong compression coil spring tending to cause said elongated grabbing elements to. .be, swung towandls.

each othenobviously. willube resisted by engagement .of the stopfilagainst the second actuator link .34,-.,.

The second actnatorlinksid and 3.5 areadapted, tov be .swungfromutheir position as in: Fig. --1

vto position inwardly of alined position in response to a blow against an outer surface or surfaces of one or both of said second actuator links, preferably at a location adjacent the pivotal connection 36. In practical 'use of the fish grab, the necessary blow to upset the second actuator links is provided by causing said second actuator links to be struck against a fish, such as denoted at 44 in Fig. 2, intended to be caught. Immediately when the second actuator links are swung upon the pivotal supports 3i and 33 to position inwardly of alined position, the relatively strong compression coil spring 25 will act to cause the elongated grabbing elements [5 and 16 to be swung from their spaced apart condition as in Fig. 1 toward each other in grasping relation to the fish, as in said Fig. 2. Y

It will be evident that the first actuator links are caused to be swung through a considerably shorter arc than are the elongated grabbing elements in response to action of the relatively strong compression coil spring which causes said elongated grabbing elements to be moved from position as in Fig. 1 to position as in Fig. 2. The extent to which the elongated grabbing elements are permitted to swing toward each other can be limited by engagement of portions of the second actuator links 34 and 35 adjacent the pivotal connection 35 with the actuator button 39 while in normal position, and in the event it may be desirable that said elongated grabbing elements overlap when at their closed position, the construction and arrangement can be such that said elongated grabbing elements are slightly out of alinement in direction transversely of the fish grab, as the elongated grabbing elements are disclosed in Fig. 3 of the drawing. In any event, the construction and arrangement desirably will be such as to preclude possibility of the barbs or prongs I9 and 23 upon the elongated grabbing elements l5 and It coming into violent head-on contact with each other.

Evidently, the device of the invention can be employed to spear fish.

What is claimed is:

l. A fish grab comprising an elongated frame member, oppositely disposed, elongated grabbing elements extending outwardly from and having their inner end portions pivotally connected to an end portion of said elongated frame member for swinging movement toward and away from each other, barbs upon and at the interior sides of outer end portions of said elongated grabbing elements in facing relation to each other,.means for resiliently urging said elongated grabbing elements to be swung toward each other constituted as an element slidably mounted on the elongated frame member adjacent the elongated grabbing elements, oppositely disposed first actuator links at the outer sides of said elongated grabbing elements having their inner end portions pivotally connected to said slidable element and their outer end portions pivotally connected to intermediate portions of said elongated grabtea-tor links for-retainingsaid elongated grabbing-1 er in m ntsand a com res ion;-. q i;..; ir um said e on ated.-v fra e ember z rlnrei'ne slidable. elementtoward said elongatedgra elements; and, devices --inc1udine- QO Q' v elements in spacedrelation against resilient action of said means.

2."The1-.combination as specified, in; claim; 1 wherein there is a pivotal connection between: adjacent end portions of said second actuator links, pivotal connections between spaced apart end portions of said second actuator links and intermediate portions of said elongated grabbing elements adapted to permit the second actuator links to be swung between a position where said second actuator links are in substantial alinement and a position where the second actuator links are in oblique relation at the side of said pivotal connections between said second actuator links and said elongated grabbing elements adjacent said elongated frame member and means for limiting swinging movement of said second actuator links relative to said elongated grabbing elements and to each other in direction away from said elongated frame member when the second actuator links are swung outwardly beyond alined relation.

3. The combination as specified in claim 2, and means adapted to be manually actuated to cause said second actuator links to be swung from said position where in oblique relation to position where disposed outwardly of alined relation.

4. A fish grab comprising an elongated hollow tubular member, oppositely disposed, elongated grabbing elements extending outwardly from and having their inner end portions pivotally connected to an end portion of said elongated hollow tubular member for swinging movement toward and away from each other, barbs upon and at the interior sides of outer end portions of said elongated grabbing elements in facing relation to each other, means for resiliently urging said elongated grabbing elements to be swung toward each other constituted as an element slidably mounted on the elongated hollow tubular member adjacent the elongated grabbing elements, oppositely disposed first actuator links at the outer sides of said elongated grabbing elements having their inner end portions pivotally connected to said slidable element and their outer end portions pivotally connected to intermediate portions of said elongated grabbing elements and a compression coil spring upon said elongated hollow tubular member for urging said slidable element toward said elongated grabbing elements, devices for retaining said elongated grabbing elements in spaced relation against resilient action of said means, said devices being constituted as oppositely disposed second actuator links, a pivotal connection between adjacent end portions of said second actuator links, pivotal connections between spaced end portions of said second actuator links and intermediate portions of said elongated grabbing elements adapted to permit the second actuator links to be swung between a position where said second actuator links are in substantial alinement and a position where the second actuator links are in oblique relation at the. side of said pivotal connections between said second actuator links and said elongated grabbing elements adjacent said elongated hollow tubular member, means for limiting swinging movement of said second actuator links relative to said elongated grabbing elements and to each other away from said elongated hollow tubular member VICTOR J. BENSON.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 406,546 Taber July 9, 1889 671,294 Pennock Apr. 2, 1901 964,875 Bjornseth July 12, 1910 980,212 Dale Jan. 3, 1911 1,171,440 Immell Feb. 15, 1916 

